cebuana style – Page 19 – Gizelle Faye Creative Studio

passion over knowledge or vice versa

i was feeling a bit anxious about my recent choice to resign yesterday that i was only able to sleep 3 hours before my shift at 8:00 PM. anxiety meant i needed to talk to someone and just ramble away my issues. sometimes i just write my feelings down but yesterday, i needed a friend. i also have a feeling that these small anxiety attacks would surface every now and then in the days leading up to my resignation and yeah, maybe during my rest. i am after all applying for other jobs outside the call center industry. so i will be needing a friend more often and harry would just have to put up with my mood swings (as always).

i got a chance to talk to my friend, canence, who has always been the one who talked sense or logic to me whenever i am down. we talked about this rut that we’re in and about our plans to resign from our current jobs. i told her that i don’t have a back-up job i can fall to when i resign and that i am scared shitless because i don’t know what to do. she told me that unlike her who doesn’t know what she’s passionate about, it’s good that i am passionate about fashion and that i should pursue it. i told her that i have always been jealous of how she’s getting certified at networking (cisco) and have been expanding her knowledge that she can easily land a job anywhere. i only have my experience to back me up because i graduated with a degree in computer engineering but i wasted my 5 years in college because i can’t remember a thing about what i majored in. know what she told me? she says she feels that her knowledge is just on the surface and have nothing to back it up. well, i have passion, but not have too much knowledge to back it up.

passion over knowledge? or knowledge over passion? what do you think?

stepping into the light

no i’m not sad in these photos. i’m sleepy and very full from our big breakfast this morning. harry and i like to just sleep-in on weekends and this is one of them. just a post-birthday celebration and also to celebrate our 29th month together as a couple. this pale green dress is one of my favorites. it has seen me through chubby and fat days because of the elastic waist. i am happy to report that i had to cinch the belt so much that i had to fold it at the sides. the dressed used to be a bohemian maxi dress but i had my dad cut it short — just like he did on all my other dresses. i loved it as a maxi dress but felt that it cut me shorter because of its full skirt.

so here’s my weekend: brownie cheesecake and hours of talking with karen, browsing through books i can’t afford at fully booked especially now that i’m saving for my unemployed days, dvd shopping — grey’s anatomy season 6, the runaways and she’s out of my league; slept in the clothes i wore out and make-up when i got home — which made me feel like crap because i don’t like feeling dirty in the middle of my sleep; lots of channel surfing with harry on sunday afternoon, a night with a polka-dotted ribbon, a donut twist and almond snickers bar at 4 in the morning and lots and lots of sleep.

pale green boho dress – thrifted

silver braided belt – random

long watch necklace – hongkong

silver cuffs – thrifted at carbon

a mistake i got to make

i’m already 25 years old and will be turning 26 this august. in the philippines, even when we live in a modern world, that age is still somehow a cause for alarm if we’re not yet settled — whether in our careers, love life or family life. i am not going to lie. i am immensely scared about this leap that i am going to take. i finally talked to our manager today and he gave me this “your-a-woman-who-can-do-great-things” speech and saying that i am almost the next level, that i have worked so hard to succeed in an industry that i am good at. he wanted me to plan out my life in the next 5 years outside the company (or industry) and compare it with a plan inside the company. i smiled with all my courage and said, “i know that i am good at my job but i don’t want to be doing something that i hate for a long time. honestly, i don’t plan to plan for the next month.”

in ‘how i met your mother’ season 1, lily told ted that going to san francisco may be a mistake but it’s a mistake that she has to make and that a bigger mistake would be not being able to find out if it’s a mistake or not. (ted totally got side-tracked over the number of mistakes in the sentence)… i know it’s confusing but i really still do think and feel that i have to do this.

sorry if i am boring you with three successive posts about my plan to leave my current job. it’s been in my mind for the past week — every day for that matter. just wanted to let it all out. thanks for listening. better topics next week, promise. *wink*

black blazer – thrifted

white tank top – abercrombie

striped city shorts – bought from manager’s garage sale

black platforms – forever 21

silver cuffs – thrifted at carbon

gun-metal layered bracelet – thrifted at carbon

gun-metal reindeer necklace – bubble bee tea house

dog tags – custom-made

aviators – mongkok, hk

can i hide in my closet?

i realized that i am not a kid anymore and cannot fit in my closet. i remember that my mom and big sister would use to go in these midnight sales in robinsons and i would tag along with them. while they’re choosing and fitting clothes, i’d hide under the clothes racks, appreciating the different textures and prints. i’d also try to scare my mom and sister too. i also remember that whenever my cousins, sister and i would play hide and seek, the closet was always the first thing i’d go to. my mom and dad had these double closets where there are two iron rods back to back. i’d burrow deep into the clothes and hide at the back. i can stay there for an hour.

i wish i can hide in my closet now. or just under the clothes rack. that would be a perfect excuse not to go to work. don’t you think?

oh by the way, i have submitted my resignation and will be tendering my last 30 days in our company. wish me luck! as i don’t have any plans at all. good thing my mom approved of my plan to just rest for a month. i am hacking my brains for things to do from august – september. i really want to get back to custom-making clothes, DIY-ing and jewelry making. let’s see if my laziness doesn’t get to the best of me. haha!

sheer polka dress (used as top) – random

jeans – chilly papas

button-up jacket – bossini (still thrifted)
off-white peep-toe heels – janeo

necklaces: eyeglasses – random | rose engraved watch – hongkong

stacks of faux gold bangles – gifted from india

white enamel bangle – props

we had to make it happen: BLOGGER MEET-UP!

i am really shy (or speechless) upon first introduction. i don’t know what to do when i meet strangers. the meet-up was not really with strangers as we have all been communicating in the blogosphere but it’s different meeting people in person. so on my way to loft where we were all to meet, i was thinking repeatedly in my foolish paranoia, “what are we going to talk about?” haha! i didn’t have any reason to be paranoid because the night did go well (maybe sans the stupid discrimination of the bouncer or management at loft)… we had drinks, we had laughs and of course, lots of photos! just imagine everyone bringing their own cameras and asking the waiter to take the group photos with all of them…it was crazy!

the night was not just a meet-up of fashion bloggers but also of fashion enthusiasts and up and coming designer. the roll call (from the first photo): rand, kelvin, kristine roa of instyle cebu, yves of yves style, angel of the great social nomad, iya, dane of trust me, it’s paradise, eden of chic in the tropics, ed and nym wales.

we still had a few who were not in attendance and i really hope they could join us next time!

of course, loft night is not complete without my sister and our friends. we also celebrated our friend, yami’s birthday and we were both dressed in animal print too! here’s how the rest of my night went:

leopard print dress – thrifted

black belt – part of my lil’ sister’s shorts that she’s wearing here

curtain necklace – props

stacks of faux gold bangles – gifted

wooden ring – thrifted at carbon

black peep-toe booties – celine (a gift from harry!)

the game of tag

i was tagged by lee of spunk and glam to answer a few questions.

1. What do you do for a living?

I work for a call center as a Team Leader.
2. What is your blog name and why?

My blog name is ‘Vanilla Ice Cream’ because when I started this blog as a personal blog back in 2007, I was at a time of my life where I was undecided, fearing too much about my future and mostly heartbroken. Vanilla ice cream always made me feel better. The feeling vanilla ice cream gives me is actually on my very first post of this new blog.
3. Who is your favorite singer/band and why?

This is a really tough question…I have lots of favorite singers and bands. I simply cannot make up my mind. I’ve always loved Jewel, Natalie Imbruglia when I was growing up. Then I found indie rock and pop punk rock and brit rock and I fell in love with music all over again. I love the killers, the cure, the strokes, the smiths, the honorary title, imogen heap, regina spektor, the national, john mayer, jack johnson and lots more. I love these kinds of music because they take me out of my daily routine and give that ‘soundtrack’ to what I am doing or experiencing. More about my love for rock here.
4. What is your favorite restaurant and your favorite thing to eat there?

I would have to say Krua Thai or Siam (I think they have the same owner..haha!) I love Thai food because I love peanuts or nuts in my food and they combine the sweet and spicy in one dish. Harry and I also love the Pad Thai in Lemon Grass.
5. What is your favorite item of clothing?

Oh my, another question which I cannot give a specific answer. I have this black vintage shirt that I thrifted in college that has vintage cars all over the front. It’s kinda’ loose and very comfortable. It’s my go-to shirt when I just want to be comfortable or just don’t care about dressing up. I think I’ve paired it with shorts, skirts and jeans.
6. Who is your favorite fashion icon?

drew barrymore | janis joplin | mary-kate olsen | nicole richie

7. What is your personal fashion style?

i like to be comfortable (but maybe a little sacrifice on shoes). i wear lots of bohemian stuff — whether i just wear accents or really boho tops or dresses. i love the idea of not caring too much very my clothes match. as much as i love earth colors like blues, tan, browns and nudes, i also have a share of wearing neons too. i have to say, i dress according to my mood.

8. Where do you usually go for ukay-ukay or bargain shopping?

there is this store right beside a hospital that has new stuff every end of the month. my mom, sisters and i make it a habit to go there every month. i hardly buy in malls — only to buy shoes. and my shoe price limit is P2500.

i want to post who i want to tag but i’ll do that on monday. i’m in a hurry because i need to catch some zzzz’s to wake up at 2:00 PM to prepare for my friend’s wedding.

by the way, thanks to everyone who commented on my last post. i took a sick leave on thursday to allow myself to rest and i slept for 16 hours! whoa! i felt better when i woke up but still very much decided to leave this career. i hope i get called up for interviews soon!

restless

i’m in a rut.

have you ever found yourself overly restless and just unconsciously (and consciously) counting the time til’ the day ends? i haven’t felt like this since i was 12 years old when i couldn’t wait to grow up and do amazing things. boy, i didn’t picture restlessness as an adult. i thought i would conquer the world. a girl could dream right?

seriously, i’ve been feeling a little apathetic at work lately. de-motivated. i find myself hating the routine of this industry (BPO) and of this job. i wake up at 6:30 PM, snooze my alarm 3 times, take a bath, come in to work at 8:00 PM and do the same thing everyday. i roll my eyes at the foolishness of the people around me too many times and have had moments where i just sit in my chair, stare at my computer and do nothing. nada. i think i’ve taken too many bathroom or pantry breaks this week — like maybe 10 times a day. and this is not me. when i get passionate about a job, i even forget to take breaks and don’t mind extending hours for work at all.

i need a change. don’t get me wrong, i am not just complaining here but have actually started doing something to take me out of this rut. i’ve decided to take a complete career change that will take me away from this BPO industry. possibly a day job — after 5 years since i graduated college. i don’t want to jinx my plans but i do need your support. your prayers.

here’s to hoping. heartily hoping.

buttoned cotton top – thrifted

puffed-sleeved cardigan – thrifted

jeans – bebe jeans

grey ballet flats – so fab! (a gift from big sis)

faux gold bangles – gifted from india | props
sewing machine necklace – random

enamel rose ring – thrifted at carbon

brown sunnies – thrifted at carbon

since we were 12 years old

i never get tired of this place. daanbantayan is the ultimate haven for me. not because it’s has the perfect white sands or untouched waters but because it is quiet and is really a place where i can just unwind and not think about all life’s problems. the funny thing is, the rest house is not even ours. it belongs to my dad’s kind high school friend who has always allowed us to use the place whenever we want to — save when they want to use it for themselves. so for 7 years, we’ve been coming back here as a family or with my friends. every time, always as fun as the last.

blue green printed kaftan – thrifted | yellow green bikini top – props | brown sunnies – thrifted at carbon

this memory of time spent with my long time best friends (since we were 12 years old) will remain forever in my mind. believe it or not, but this is the first time in a long time that we’ve been able to go out of town where majority of us are present. good friends, good food — really good food like grilled pork, fresh crabs and fish and yummy kinilaw, good music, hilarious and challenging game of taboo, good drinks in the name of tanduay and kool-aid, never-ending laughter — what more could i ask for?

trash the dress

the weekend was not only a chance to spend time with long time friends but also, more importantly to have april mae and gian’s trash-the-dress post nuptial photo shoot.

so after the 3 hours drive to daanbantayan, we put on our make-up despite the very humid weather, wore the dresses we wore at wedding and made like very amateur models in our shoots. LOL. the photos posted here are done by calography. to check out rates and his portfolio, it is a must to click on the link!

my body is still aching from all the fun and sun so i will tell you more about the trip on tomorrow’s post which will definitely include all the photos my friends and i had.

have a great monday everyone!

april’s wedding dress – noelle west

bridal entourage’s dresses – partly designed by me and the wearer

juvenile and loving it

everytime i think of the arcade, i remember high school. the days when we didn’t own cellphones and when my friends and i meet each other at the mall, we’d have to stay put and wait at the agreed spot because if you leave, you will get lost. the meeting place was always timezone, national bookstore or haha, i hate to say this but ‘blue magic…’ LOL. (for those who grew up in cebu city during the late 1990’s — 1997 to 2000, you know what i mean!) those were the days when all we have is P50 in our pockets and all we do in the mall is eat a couple of snacks (mcdonald’s fries or ice cream) and follow our crushes around. no, not follow but stalk! line up at photo booths and have our pictures taken, wait for 2 hours for it to get developed so we stalk our crushes again! oh, take me back to high school where life was simple.

ps. will be going back to daanbantayan this weekend so i will see you guys this monday when we get back…in my last attempt to gather in the rays and soak in salt water. this is for april’s post-nuptial trash-the-dress shoot!

polka top – thrifted (my mom’s)

folded denim shorts – props

navy blue flats with rhinestones – parisian

thin white belt – random

white bag – mongkok ladies’ market, hk

rings: black oval – props, square stone ring – random

gun-metal silver bangles – props | random

slow addiction

as a teen, i could never understand my big sister’s addiction to shoes. it was unfathomable to me how she can spend huge sums of money on shoes when all you need is one pair of sandals, a pair of closed shoes, rubber shoes for playing sports and slippers. there was a point in my life where i would wear slippers everywhere when i was off work. i just needed to be comfortable. oh, i was so damn wrong!

i thought about writing this because last week, while i was working and typing away at my computer, i suddenly thought about shoes and it made me feel better. i come in an hour earlier than everyone else at work (no, i’m not a goody two-shoes girl — my shift calls me to do so..haha!) and i suddenly thought about the vintage rose heels i saw at CMG and i wanted to abandon work and cross the street to ayala mall and just buy a pair. i am saving for our bangkok trip so of course i couldn’t buy it but just the thought of doing so made me smile.

so now, i don’t just need 4 pairs of footwear…i need 2 pairs of each classic color (tan, brown, white, black and grey — one for casual outfits (like cut-out heels or gladiator heels) and a closed-one (maybe a peep-toe one) for when i like to dress-up. i also need several pairs of colored ballet flats (probably with rhinestones or studs or in animal print) and studded, beaded or fringed sandals. i still kept all my havaianas slippers as i still do adore them.

what apparel are you finding yourself addicted to these days?

white embroidered boho top – thrifted (my mom’s)

boyfriend jeans – abercrombie vintage (my mom’s too!)

black platform heels – forever 21

gun-metal silver cuffs – props

sea shell chandelier earrings – random

brown sunnies – thrifted at carbon

find me at a reflection by tuesdai for an interview by HER:

thanks tuesdai for the feature! check out her blog for lots of inspiration, funny stories and very interesting random thoughts.

borrowing policies

if you have a sister or in my case, sisters then you would know what i mean about borrowing policies. i have 3 closets because i have two sisters — charm, who is older than me by 8 years and aimee, who is younger than me by 2 years. we get to borrow clothes, bags and accessories except jeans and shoes because we each have different sizes — charm is 5’7″ so her jeans are too long for me, her shoe size is 39 which is too big for me as i am a 37 and aimee is a size 0 (yes, she’s a zero..is that even a size?LOL) so her jeans will not fit me at all, her shoe size is a 35 or 36 which is too small for me. our clothes go on rotation. it’s like shopping everyday as we get to visit each other’s closets. but there are rules — rather strict rules with borrowing stuff:

first dibs always goes to the owner — meaning, the clothes you borrow should have already been worn by the owner
always take care of the stuff you borrow — no stains, no scratches, no tears.
the clothes or stuff have to be returned to the original place we found them — or at least, it has to make an appearance in the owner’s room or closet once a week.

aimee is a bit harder to borrow clothes from because she’s always possessive and hardly wears her clothes because she wears a uniform to work. i sometimes ban her from our thrifting trips and disregard any thoughtfulness we have when we see clothes she might like when my mom and i are out thrifting because she has too many stuff she hasn’t worn yet. so now i am patiently waiting for her to wear the striped dress she bought a month ago, this studded, leopard print off shoulder top, a military jacket (that i might secretly wear to work when she’s asleep…LOL) and this pale blue plaid chiffon dress. last week, i insisted on wearing her grey apron-like top to work and she allowed me to (which is a miracle!) but here’s the catch, i cannot take photos of it…haha!

ps. my mom’s the easiest to borrow clothes from and she has lots of boho tops that i wear all the time. her closet is my favorite. *wink*

how about you, do you have ‘borrowing policies’ with your sister/s? how about with your mom or roommate?

striped top – random

black and white floral skirt with cutouts – lil’ sister’s (yey!)

black blazer – thrifted

braided belt – props

silver cuffs – thrifted at carbon